Fulham manager Martin Jol insists nobody is complaining about the Cottagers' early return to competitive football and even backed his charges to repeat the Europa League exploits of two years ago.
Jol began pre-season with his new troops last week in preparation for his first match at the helm against NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in the Europa League first round on Thursday. Fulham have fond memories of the competition having reached the final against Atletico Madrid in 2010.
The run surprised many but Jol believes the Cottagers could once again progress through the competition. He said: "I would imagine that there are quite a few teams that would like to be in Europe."
He added: "In Holland you play for Europe and I think it is the same in England. In the league you play for the support and yourself.
"You want to stay in the league firstly but secondly you want to finish in the first five or six spots. You want to be in Europe. That is the goal.
"Maybe that wasn't the goal for Fulham but because they are playing the way they did they did well in the Fair Play cup.
"If you can do that and if you're lucky enough you play in Europe so you can't complain.
"Two years ago they did unbelievably well, gave the club a good profile in Europe and the money was coming in as well."
Asked whether his side could repeat the exploits of 2010, he added: "You need a bit of luck but I remember Fulham playing against Shakhtar Donetsk and beating them.
"I can't remember Shakhtar losing a game at home so they certainly played a way that could be successful in Europe, so why not?"
Source: PA
